After three years, we’re back at Sea World!
Words can’t describe how much my kids love this iconic place! Their eyes were wide open from the moment we got inside to when we called it a day. They took in the colorful sights, were fascinated with the marine life displays, and loved every single activity Sea World has to offer.
The last time we were at Sea World, Sheldon was eighteen months, and Avery, two months. Now - with three babies in tow and one very present bump - this trip was on another level. This momma’s planning and organizing skills were put to the test!
If you’re also planning on a Sea World trip (or any trip rather) soon and need all the tips to get you and the family ready through the process, I got you. Read on for my tips on how YOU can make your own family vacation a success.
Before the Trip: Jot Down a Checklist + What to Bring
During our family travels, I always find myself in situations where I have to weigh in if an item is worth bringing with me.
Traveling with three kids it’s three times overwhelming!
To save me from exasperation and the risk of forgetting their must-haves, I made a checklist of things that I knew were essential.
My checklist is often sectioned into 3: the pre-departure items, things you will use on-site, and your essentials for going home.
When I prepped our bags for Sea World, I made sure these items were in the bag:
Clothes
Each piece of clothing we packed was intentional, including bathing suits for the pools.
We picked out casual fits that were comfortable enough for a day of walking around Sea World. Allen and I brought some active wear just in case we can squeeze in a workout. To be sure, we also threw in dressier outfits for our formal family dinner.
I admit I went all in with bringing multiple pajamas for the kids and us because you can never tell when you need to change one. We also packed some socks and long sleeve shirts for the indoors and plane.
Shoes
Our bag also had different styles, including casual shoes, dressier shoes for fancy dinners, flip flops, and sandals for an entire day of walking. I also felt that packing athletic footwear was a must because flip-flops can give up from too much walking. Since it was Sea World, we also packed some water shoes for the kids.
Outdoor Essentials
For the days when we were out and about, we had these in our bag:
Sunscreen
Bug spray,
Hat for each family member
Sunglasses
Lip balm
Since we spent a considerable amount of time outdoors, having these essentials gave us peace of mind.
Safety/ Medical/ Emergency Bag
I took safety and precaution up a notch because you never know when some serious stuff can happen, and I’d hate to be caught unprepared for it.
To ensure we had our bases covered should an emergency happen, we set up a bag for the following emergency/ medical items:
Insurance card
Medications
Children’s Tylenol/Ibuprofen
Thermometer
Hand sanitizer (keep one hanging on your backpack at all times – and the spray version is especially good for kids!) and
Mini first-aid kit
Toiletries
If you’re like me - one who doesn’t rely much on complimentary toiletries in the hotel - it’s essential to have these in your family bag:
Toothbrushes and toothpaste (make sure you bring the children’s versions too!)
Comb/brush,
Hair products and accessories
Razors (shaving gear if needed)
Deodorant
Makeup
Skin care products
Contact solution (if needed)
Lotion/oil and perfumes
Personal Items
This is a customizable list - this totally depends on what you would do during the trip.
Passports/documents (if needed)
Glasses
Phones
Laptops
Tablets,
Chargers for all electronics
Cameras
Ring lights
Jewelry
Headphones
Reusable day bags
Corkscrews
Outlet adapters
Carry-on Items
This list is for my go-to items and includes everything I keep close with me the entire trip.
Cash/credit cards
Warm/compression socks
Jackets or hoodies (cold on planes!)
Lysol wipes (to wipe down the plane tray and window)
Books or magazines (if not on your phone)
Earplugs
Eye masks
Inflatable pillows (if needed)
Headphones
Chargers
Snacks
Gum
Food
Refillable water bottles
Essential medications
Baby Items
There’s so much unpredictability when you’re traveling with a baby. Some of the things that can’t be absent in our baby bag are the following:
Baby carrier of your choice if you’re traveling with an infant
Diapers (make sure to bring enough)
Wipes
Diaper cream (travel-sized)
Food and snacks
Bottles or sippy cups
Bibs
Swim diapers
Strollers/Wagon
Pacifiers (if needed)
Special items like favorite blankets and stuffed animals
Thermometer
A little word of advice on bringing cribs and car seats: DON’T! We recommend - for your convenience - that you just rent one once you get to your destination. Fortunately, most hotels and rental car companies are always able to provide these items.
Children’s Carry-on Items
Here is some stuff that has made traveling with toddlers and kids easier!
Comfort items (special blanket/stuffed animal)
Kid Headphones
Snacks
Water cups (empty to give to the flight attendant when taking drink orders)
Melatonin gummies/drops (shhh!)
Small coloring books
Crayons
Travel games,
Small books and tablet
During the Trip: How to Make Your Vacations Less Stressful for You and Your Kids
Overall, I can say that the trip exceeded my expectations. I was initially anxious about some things, but all the pre-departure planning paid off!
Here are some things that made our Sea World travel less stressful for everyone.
Preparing for THE Plane Ride
The folks with us during the flight couldn’t stop commending how behaved the kids were the entire trip.
Let me share a little mommy secret for anxious moms and dads flying with little ones soon: melatonin. I sometimes give Harper melatonin drops in his bottle and a melatonin gummy to Sheldon and Avery. Shortly after take off, they’re blissfully asleep (most of the time!).
I also ensure Harper takes the bottle during take-off to minimize ear pressure discomfort.
When we know we’re traveling with kids, we always book first-class flights - the comfort also makes a big difference.
Choosing the “Homtel”
Traveling together has made Allen and I quite picky with hotels. For our Sea World trip, we decided to stay at the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek. The customer service and Jasmine at the Unreserved Restaurant in the hotel were top-notch.
Sheldon loved the place so much that he called it the “Homtel.”
Getting the Kids Snacks That They Want
We always do a Target Run when traveling with the kids to get all of their snacks for the hotel room. We found out it's more economical and we can ensure they’ll eat at least the things they like. Happy kids, happy parents!
If we don’t rent a vehicle, we will Instacart the items.
Choosing The Orlando Attractions That Are Worth It
Orlando is a haven for anyone who just can't get enough of the attractions. As for our family, we knew we couldn't go to all of these stops, so we chose multiple day passes to Sea World to see as much as possible during this trip. We will come back to Disney World, Universal Studios, and all of the others when the kids are older.
Spending Time at Sea World
Tip: pack extra clothing for the little ones just in case of an accident (we used the extra clothing twice!).
We also planned the upgrades we wanted to do, like the Up-Close with the Dolphins and Beluga Whales. The All-Day Dining Pass was also worth it for a family our size, and baby Harper got to indulge for free (under two).
Oh, and I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful The Wonderfold Wagon. The absolute saving grace during our time outdoors and indoors.
Lounging Time
We took the children to the pool during our trip, as the kids are learning how to swim, we always equip them with floaties in the pool. We decided to reserve a Cabana to have a designated area to relax while at the pool - this is a must if you have kids who are active one moment and super tired the next. Sheldon didn’t approve because he said the Cabana needed more snacks!
More Orlando Trips Coming Soon!
Our Orlando and Sea World trip was a success and I’m grateful we could travel there again as a family.
The next time we return, we will be a family of 6, and prepping for travel will be a different story.
I hope how we planned and did our Sea World trip gave you an idea of how you can make your family vacations less stressful and more memorable.
How about you? What Orlando attractions are you planning to visit soon?
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